Faculty of Forestry UGM and PT Semen Baturaja Tbk collaborated in the application of silviculture engineering to enhance the quality of environmental management in Semen Baturaja area. This is stated in the signing of Memorandum of Understanding by the Dean of Faculty of Forestry UGM, Dr. Budiadi, and the Director of Semen Baturaja, Rahmad Pribadi, on Monday (31/7) at Faculty of Forestry UGM.
Budiadi said the silviculture engineering technique will be implemented in the ex-mining areas by planting trees that are able to restore the land to become sustainable again. “We are planting the pioneer trees that will be able to restore the condition of the environment but it will take a long time,” said Budiadi.
According to Budiadi, this cooperation with a cement company is the first cooperation done by Faculty of Forestry UGM to restore the condition of the environment in the ex-mining area. However, the trees that will be planted in the area have to be adjusted to the land condition in the ex-mining area of Semen Baturaja. According to Budiadi, several kinds of the tree will be planted, including legumes for covering the land and sea pine that have a capability to absorb nitrogen inside the ground. “These two plantations have a capability to absorb more nitrogen, thus fertilizing the ground,” he added.
Rahmad Pribadi said this cooperation is not only a project for conserving the environment but also as a research location for the researchers at the university. “We hope the research from UGM can be implemented in other locations and gives benefits to society,” said Rahmad Pribadi.
If the implementation of this silviculture engineering succeeds, according to Rahmad, it can become a pilot project for the development of other cement industries in Indonesia in replicating what has been done by Semen Baturaja and Faculty of Forestry UGM to preserve the environment. “We hope it can be replicated in the other locations so that the extractive industries and environmental preservation can walk side by side,” he added.